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Recently, the U.S. Navy's VFA-97 squadron embarked on a fast-paced training cycle to prepare for deployment in less than half the time available to the Navy’s first F-35C squadron. The completion of Composite Training Unit Exercise marks the last training evolution for the squadron prior to their deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

VFA-97 excelled in every training evolution during four separate exercises: two at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center in Fallon, Nevada, and two embarked training evolutions on USS Carl Vinson. They did this while executing multiple aircraft swaps with VFA-147 to prepare VFA-147 for an upcoming homeport shift to Iwakuni, Japan, and while maintaining noteworthy Mission Capable rates. The squadron further executed previously planned Joint Strike Fighter Wing Lightning Sustainment Inspections (LSI) and readily adopted and executed the new F-35 fleet-wide Tier 2 Corrosion Production Aircraft Inspection Requirement (PAIR) that was based on the LSI.

VFA-97 proves itself to be an integral part of projecting the peace and security across the globe. While completing final preparations for deployment, the squadron exhibited exemplary performance in tactical proficiency, mission readiness and aircraft material condition. The deployment with Carrier Air Wing 2 is scheduled for later this year as part the Carl Vinson Strike Group.